Friends in the 21st Century

The theme of today's message was friendship. One of the big ideas in the message and something I have been thinking about this week getting ready for this topic is the idea of how we develop and maintain relationships in the 21st Century.

Today's world is driven by technology. It's never been easier to communicate, faster to communicate, and communication has never been less personal. You can't develop a real relationship through Twitter or via text message. People don't even use whole words when texting these days, let alone complete sentences.

Sure, it makes communication faster and easier. Sometimes that's great. When you need to send a quick, simple message fast, texting is a great tool. But too often, it feels like people are trying to build whole relationships through these mediums.

In the old days, people relied of face to face meetings, letters, and telephone calls. Each requires a certain amount of depth and genuine human contact — though you could debate those points with phone conversations, I guess.

I love the Internet. I appreciate my Facebook page, this blog, and the ability to fire off a text message. But I also recognize that there is a certain limitation to all of this. You can't convey emotions clearly via online communication. You can't offer depth of communication, and you can't offer personal communication well through these mediums. They are intended for mass audiences.

I also have concerns when I think about the way people communicate through these new mediums. People are still desperate for meaningful connection, which is why sometimes people post very personal reflections for the public via the Internet. In a world where people have hundreds of "friends" thanks to new technology, we're becoming increasingly isolated and lonely. If this trend continues, I fear to think where we'll be in 10 or 15 years.

Jesus best ministry was done by meeting people where they were, face to face. I think that's our best ministry too. I love writing blogs and sharing my thoughts and faith through this medium, but it pales in comparison to being able to look someone in the eye and see their joy, feel their pain, and share in their concerns face-to-face.

In a world where communication has never been more efficient, real communication still takes some hard work. But it's definitely worth the time and effort.